{Perfluorosulfonate Ionomer]/[Mixed Inorganic Oxide] Nanocomposites via Polymer-in Situ Sol-Gel Chemistry

[Mixed-metal oxide]/[Nafion] hybrid films were formulated via in situ sol-gel reactions for tetrabutyl titanate/tetraethoxysilane and for aluminum tri-sec-butoxide/tetraethoxysilane alkoxide pairs. Inorganic composition profiles across film thicknesses were investigated via X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy with an environmental scanning microscope. Mechanical tensile analysis was used to infer inorganic oxide nanophase/Nafion interfacial interactions, as well as interknitting of inorganic oxide nanoparticles. The TiO2 component within the titaniasilicate-filled hybrids was concentrated in glassy near-surface regions, whereas the SiO2-Al2O3 phase within aluminasilicate-filled hybrids was distributed homogeneously causing mechanical ductility. Investigations of structural topology within the inorganic oxide phases were conducted via IR and NMR spectroscopies.